Inkjet & Digital Printing
HP helps Mastergraph achieve a fashionable image
Wednesday 17. June 2009 - New HP Indigo Press will facilitate web-to-print
HP announced today that Mastergraph plc, Milan, has invested in a third HP Indigo press, the HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press in order to increase production and to drive the company’s web-to-print initiative.
Mastergraph made its debut into digital printing in 2004 to address the major changes in the market – including the increased demand for short runs – by installing an HP Indigo press 1000. In 2006, as the company became aware of the capabilities offered by digital printing technology in terms of quality, flexibility and cost, they invested in a second more competitive digital printing system, an HP Indigo 5000 press. Further progressions in digital technology opened new niche markets to Mastergraph and as a result in April 2007, an HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press was installed, completing the integration between traditional offset printing and digital printing. This installation has also improved production and realised their move towards web-to-print.
Mastergraph was established in 1993 through a joint venture of two Italian printing companies. Its core activity since inception has been centred on the commercial printing of high quality products geared towards the fashion industry, including catalogues, brochures, cards, invitations and look books. The combination of its digital presses and in-house finishing lines means that jobs can be turned around within 24 – 48 hours and has enabled it to develop new products and applications for its customers.
Antonio Angerano, managing director, Mastergraph said, “Thanks to HP Indigo we can satisfy requirements in terms of a high and consistent quality of the products and in terms of cost and flexibility to realise only a few copies. Starting off in an offset environment, we used to consider digital technology as an optional choice in order to deal with market demands. Now, we consider digital technology as mandatory, mostly because it enables us to be proactive toward our focus market and to enlarge our business and embrace new challenges.”
Mastergraph has proved itself as a well-known provider of prestigious and high quality printing products specialising in commercial printing. Its customer portfolio is primarily made up of private and manufacturing companies mainly from the fashion and luxury industries and advertising agencies, including renowned international fashion brands.
For the fashion brands the company works with, the HP Indigo presses have enabled Mastergraph to produce very high quality customised products, such as luxury and prestige catalogues, which require unique features, very high quality image definition and customised finishing applications. The ability of the Indigo presses to print on a wide range of coated and un-coated papers in up to seven colours means that brand owners can achieve the look and feel that they require.
“HP indigo technology has perfectly fulfilled our expectations and our requirements in terms of quality, flexibility, repeatability and cost. We are very pleased with HP as our technological partner, the Italian team is very supportive, responsive and ready to help us,” Angerano concluded.